Never before had Navarro come to her with such a blend of tenderness and urgency. It was as if he wanted to possess her fully, stake a claim on her. Was he surrendering to her? Did he care for her more than he realized or more than he could admit so soon after a final break with Jessica? Was he letting go of all restraint, if only for tonight, or perhaps to test that possibility? “Love me, my captive warrior, love me,” she urged.
“I will, my beautiful mistress, I will,” he murmured in her ear. He used every talent and skill he possessed to make her writhe in need of him.
Beth savored every intoxicating kiss, every titillating touch. Each was so potent and stirring, so passionate. He was the only thought in her mind, the only reality in the world. He was the man she loved and wanted, wanted tonight and forever. Her hands roved his virile body and took delight in that journey. But she craved full contact with him, with nothing and no ghosts between them. Her fingers struggled with the ties to his buckskin pants and loosened the knot with determination. She gripped them on both sides at his waist and tugged downward.
Navarro lifted his hips for her to wriggle the snug garment over them. He rolled away only a few moments to finish their removal, along with that of the wide leather strip that confined his eager manhood. As he did so, Beth cast off her breechcloth. When he pulled her into his arms, their mouths fastened together in a hungry kiss. Their hands reached unclad regions and conquered them in fervent splendor. For as long as they could endure the blissful torment, they gave and took.
“My tolerance has vanished, slave,” Beth gasped in his ear, “indulge me. I need you now.”
“Mine’s been gone for long,” he murmured against her lips. He wished for light to view her expressions as he took her, but the fire had died and the full moon had passed. The brush hut was cloaked by obliterating darkness, so Navarro used lips and hands for eyes, and relished the scene.
Both groaned in rapture as their bodies united. Locked as one, their kisses were long, deep, and feverish. They continued a search for ecstasy until that goal was obtained, cherished, and allowed to drift into serenity. They fell asleep snuggled in each other’s arms, sated as never before.
Beth stirred, stretched, and yawned. She felt relaxed and happy. She opened her eyes and found herself alone, naked beneath a blanket her lover had placed over her to ward off the morning chill. She realized what had awakened her—voices and noises outside the shelter. She abandoned the makeshift bed, folded the covering, and laid it on the skin. Using yucca soap and water in a leather pouch, she bathed, then donned her trail garments. Before she could leave to join the others, Beth saw her possessions in a pile at the entrance and was pleased to have them returned. She located a brush and groomed her hair. Recalling Navarro’s words last night about those wavy tresses, she left them hanging free for his notice.
Last night, her mind echoed and she sighed dreamily. She had enjoyed his kisses and caresses on other occasions, but those he’d given to her after the eclipse touched and thrilled her soul deep. They gave wings to fantasies about a shared future. You’ve bewitched me, Navarro Breed. Whatever shall I do if I can’t win you?
“Good morning, partner,” a husky voice said from behind her, after Navarro peeked inside to be certain she was up and clothed.
Beth turned, smiled, and almost stumbled as she stopped in midstride with unsteadying abruptness. The shaman was with Navarro so, with difficulty, she banked overflowing emotions. She laughed and made a funny face as if the sudden pivot was to blame. “Good morning, Sees-Through-Clouds. Good morning yourself, partner. Am I late in arising?”
Navarro noticed the glow in her verdant eyes and on her rosy cheeks. If he wasn’t mistaken, she had been about to race into his arms if he but gave a slight hint. Her recent responses to him caused joy to flood his heart and hope to run in his veins. “After what you’ve endured in the last few weeks, you needed and deserved rest. Did you…sleep well?”
Beth observed a roguish grin and tone and a possessive gaze. “Never better. Maybe I should order you to hunt me a bear for a skin to go on my bed. I’d like to…sleep that well again.”
“So would I, lots of times. ‘Course, naps aren’t bad backups.”
Beth halted the double entendres before she became too stimulated to think with clarity or to talk without babbling. She focused her attention on the patient shaman. She noticed perceptive and amused gleams in his age-clouded brown eyes. “Thank you for loaning us your shelter and possessions, Sees-Through-Clouds, and for helping us with this task to save many lives, Chiricahua and white.”
“Flamehair, Night Cloud, good friends. Come, eat.”
After a meal of ash-baked bread with dried fruits and nuts that was served with wild tea, they went outside to meet with the band.
Sees-Through-Clouds pointed to Navarro’s weapons and asked about the twelve-foot rawhide “rope.” The Special Agent lifted the whip and explained its purpose to the older man. As a gesture of friendship, neither he nor Beth wore weapons in camp.
Beth noticed Navarro’s possessions had been put near the shelter, along with his black stallion. She glanced toward the stream and saw her palomino tethered there to graze and drink. “While you get everyone together, I’m going to visit Sunshine; she must be lonely and confused by now. I’ll return in a few minutes. And I’ll stay in full sight, partner.”
Navarro chuckled as she responded to a caution before he could voice it. “That’s fine, just be alert for wild animals and rattlers.” He was sure Beth would grasp he was referring to the human kind, one in particular.
Before she could head in that direction, the culprit approached them. Again he demanded she endure a final test, the one by fire.
“No,” she said, and offered no explanation or excuse. She looked at her lover and said she would return soon. She walked away to escape the leader’s seething rage.
“Give up; she isn’t going to take your bait.”
Eagle Eye scowled at Navarro’s words, whirled, and left the men in a hurry.
In moments, Navarro realized the warrior was stalking the redhead and drawing a knife. “Beth! Watch out!” With lightning speed and agility, the lawman snaked his six-plait whip through the air. The lash hissed and curled around the Indian’s uplifted and armed hand. Navarro yanked the handle with all his might and pulled the man off balance. As the foe fumbled with the leather entanglement to free himself to strike again, Navarro bolted toward the location to defend his woman with bare fists.
The weaponless Beth had spun around at the warning and gaped at her attacker, too startled for a moment to react before her partner had done so. As Eagle Eye heard help coming, he gave up trying to remove his bond and lunged toward her. Beth retreated and dodged his grasping hands. To gain time, she made a dash toward the water, with Eagle Eye in quick pursuit.
With the astonished shaman and many braves following, Navarro overtook the assailant and leapt on his back. His strong arms banded the Apache’s chest and pinned his also strong arms to his side. The imprisoned and thwarted Indian tried to shake off his burden. The men twisted and grunted as they staggered in soft earth near the stream. Eagle Eye jerked backward and slammed Navarro’s body into a tree, loosening his grip enough to escape. The Indian turned and glared at the white man.
“If Flamehair is too scared to prove herself, I will prove my words are true. Fight me in the circle, Half-breed. If I die, I am false. If you die, she is false. If you refuse, I will not join your side for the trap. If my band betrays me, I will find another. If you stop my wagons, I will find more guns and steal them. I will fight all whites and soldiers I find and kill them.”
“No!” Beth shouted. “He will not fight you to the death. Why do you resist the sacred vision when I have proven myself? Your heart and plans are evil, Eagle Eye. You must be stopped and punished by these brave and honest men you misguided with your cunning, not by Ysun’s helper. We have come to save Chiricahua blood, not spill it.” As the Indian foe gaped at her in fierce hat
red, Beth heard her words being translated to the band.
“Night Cloud is a coward with a split tongue. He hides behind a witch woman who lies and tricks us. I am Apache; if he carries Apache blood, he must accept my challenge.” The warrior smirked at Navarro and muttered, “If you do not, I will come as a thief and slay her in the night. I will track—”
Beth squealed and jumped as three arrows thudded into Eagle Eye’s back and cut off the remainder of his threat. She watched him fall face forward to the ground, dead. Her gaze lifted to search for the shooters. Three braves stood with the shaman, their bows now lowered, their faces expressionless. She listened as the older man explained that they had followed her orders and removed the leader’s evil influence and resistance.
“Come, Night Cloud, talk, plan trap. Warriors help.”
Navarro clasped Beth’s hand and guided her from the bloody scene. He took her to the shaman’s dwelling and told her to relax while he handled the meeting, which would go quicker and easier if he spoke Apache.
Beth nodded agreement. “Thanks for being so fast and skilled.”
“If the shaman hadn’t asked to see my whip and I hadn’t still been holding it, I couldn’t have gotten to that snake in time to stop him from reaching you. There surely wasn’t time to grab my rifle or pistol. It’s as if that wise man sees and knows what’s gonna happen around the bend. I’d best join the men. You’ll be all right?”
“Fine, partner, just a little shaken. I thought I was a goner. I’ve met plenty of menacing criminals during my assignments, but none with such formidable hatred and evil. Unless you object, I think I’ll conceal my derringer and knife. Being weaponless I feel exposed to everything. And what I said back there, I didn’t mean it to sound as if I were commanding them to slay Eagle Eye.”
“I know. They were destroying his evil and protecting us. They knew he wouldn’t give up trying to kill us. Without realizing it, Beth, you spoke the tribal law, one they knew they had to obey even if you’d said nothing. But every time you speak or act, you convince them you’re Flamehair.”
“I don’t know if that part of the vision is true, but it’s helped us.”
“If it weren’t true, woman, you’d still have black or sunny hair.”
“It’s eerie being part of a prophecy.”
“Sometimes it’s lucky in more ways than you know. See you later.”
Beth watched him leave and went to rest on the bearskin. I hope you meant it was lucky because it also said we’d meet. But it didn’t say how long I would “stand at your side.” For this mission or forever, my love?
“You’re leaving me behind?” Beth asked in dismay.
Navarro cupped her face and locked their gazes. “I have to ride hard and fast to reach Fort Thomas in time to convince the officer in charge to join forces with us. After I tell him my story, he’ll have to telegraph the Agency to confirm my identity before he agrees to help trap Charles and his hirelings. I can do this quicker and easier alone.” He grinned. “Besides, you’d be a big distraction to lonely soldiers. Stay here where you’ll be safe and comfortable. I’ll return in a few days; I promise.”
“What if something happens to make them doubt I’m Flamehair?”
“With Eagle Eye gone, it won’t. The shaman told me he was the only one who knew where the silver is hidden in the Superstition Mountains; the secret was passed father to son each generation. It died with him. That’s good, because it won’t tempt another warrior to make a similar deal with another gunrunner. When it’s over, maybe we can have peace between my peoples.”
“I hope so, Navarro. Go ahead. I’ll stay here as ordered. I’ll be fine.”
“Be careful.”
“Always.”
“You have plenty of supplies and water and ammunition?”
He knew they were both stalling their separation. “Yep.”
“You need anything else?”
“Just this.” He gave her a short but passionate kiss. “So long.”
“So long,” she echoed as he walked toward the entry. She followed, watched him mount, send her a smile and wink, and depart. God, protect you and guide you, my love, and bring you back to me.
Long days and lonely nights passed as Beth awaited his return. He was overdue by now. The rendezvous was scheduled for noon tomorrow—Monday, May Seventeenth, but no partner or soldiers had arrived or sent a message. To reach the meeting on time, she and the Indians had to leave this afternoon and cover half the distance.
Beth worried that an accident might have befallen Navarro or his horse. Or the Army might not have believed him, and might even have jailed him on some false charge without checking out his story. Or the commanding officer at Fort Thomas might be a part of this wicked plot and…
Beth didn’t relate those fears to the shaman or the band. But she did tell them it was time to go and said something must have delayed Navarro. She speculated aloud that he and the soldiers could be joining them at the rendezvous point, as it required time for them to muster their supplies and travel in a large group. She told herself that if all else failed, she and these Chiricahuas would carry out the critical trap. If the hour of confrontation approached and” no help appeared in advance, she would make that suggestion to the Apaches who trusted her and followed her lead.
When they were packed and mounted, Beth turned to the Indians and said, “Let’s ride.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Beth and the Chiricahuas broke camp at first light the following morning and rode toward their destination. The shaman stayed at her side and led the entire way from Bear Mountain, across the Blue River, beyond the lofty and cool Coronado Trail, into picturesque hill country with verdant valleys, and to the northern end of Eagle Creek. They journeyed along its edge through a region of grassland with an abundance of mesquites, cacti, and scrubs that was situated between forested mountains. They saw deer, elk, turkey, and other wildlife. Southwestward were the Gila Mountains and Nantac Rim, both in view on the horizon on the clear day.
As they entered one clearing between dense vegetation patches, Beth’s gaze widened in astonishment as she saw Navarro sitting on his stallion’s back, his right leg out of the stirrup and resting across his left thigh. She watched him tip back his hat and grin.
When the group reached him, he said, “Knew you wouldn’t let me down, Flamehair. Glad you made it on time.” He spoke to the shaman in Apache. He had told the man to leave at noon yesterday if he wasn’t back and had informed him which trail to take. Yet, he’d known Beth would do as she had and arrive.
When the men stopped speaking, she asked, “Where have you been? I was worried. I hoped I was doing the right thing by coming here.”
Navarro repeated what he’d just told the shaman and braves in their language. “Most of the troops were on patrol. Had to wait for their return, then give ‘em time to resupply and rest before leaving again. No trouble after Captain Blake checked out me and my orders. The soldiers are hiding at the rendezvous point, in case Charles is early. So far, he isn’t in sight. I rode ahead to meet you and get the band ready for our tricks. Let’s go. We’ll talk after we’re in position.”
They rode to a wooded spot in the hills eastward of the designated clearing. Navarro used his mirror to flash a signal to the soldiers to enter the valley as soon as they had prepared themselves for their daring scheme. Excitement and suspense ran high in the group.
Beth observed as Navarro smeared one of nature’s pigments mixed with bear grease on his face and lips to paint them yellow. Afterward, he used black to make thunderclouds on his cheeks and raindrops on his forehead. He finished with an ebony zigzag line of lightning that began at his hairline, traveled down his nose, over his lips, and under his chin. He moved behind a bush for privacy to put on his Indian garments and accessories, then arranged his long sable hair around his shoulders. As he changed clothes, Beth watched the other men as they painted and ornamented themselves; only the shaman did nothing more than witness the stimulatin
g episode.
Navarro returned and said, “If I stay back in the crowd, those culprits won’t notice my giveaway eye color. I should pass for Apache.”
“Without a doubt, Tl’ee’ K’us,” Beth murmured praise for his cunning and talents. As her admiring gaze roamed him from head to foot, she decided he looked like a primitive and enchanting god. Her heart raced with love and pride. Her body burned with desire. The look in his eyes exposed confidence, intelligence, and anticipation. He was sheer magic, and he had cast a powerful and unbreakable spell over her.
Navarro tried to ignore the way she was studying him and flushing. She possessed such radiance that he could almost feel the heat from it, and it set his heart and body and soul aflame. Surely such potent desire and respect for him would help him win her later. For now, his thoughts and feelings belonged elsewhere, if he could master them …“Biishe, nzhu,” he congratulated Nighthawk on the Indian’s accurate disguise.
The renegade who would play Eagle Eye’s role during the meeting had painted his face in the dead leader’s pattern and colors: a blue surface with black slashes over the four alleged cuts around each eye and red triangles on his cheeks, forehead, and an inverted one on his chin. Biishe wore the betrayer’s garments and adornments, and had his past friend’s horse. Those things in addition to a heavy resemblance to the lost leader should fool even Jim Tiller, who had met the real Eagle Eye. The other Indians were adorned in their chosen designs, a precaution to keep Nighthawk and Navarro’s concealed faces from looking suspicious.
When Navarro kept glancing toward the hill opposite their location, Beth asked, “Are you expecting trouble?”
“We have men positioned on several peaks between here and the trail Charles has to use; they’ll signal with mirrors when the wagons come into view. We need to be camped in the clearing and looking innocent in case Charles sends scouts to check out the area. We’ve made certain nothing will expose our trap. The Army’s horses are hidden a mile away so they won’t make any noise. Those soldiers are tucked in or behind trees, bushes, and rocks so snug not even fieldglasses will detect their presence.”
Chase The Wind Page 49
